SERGIO MARTÍNEZ-BELTRÁN/Standard-Examiner Staff

District Communications Director Jer Bates said the district will eliminate the designation of “reduced” meals effective Jan. 16. Students who formerly were charged the reduced price will get meals for free. Students who don’t qualify will still pay the full price for meals.

The decision to expand the program was made after “the district discovered that we have the opportunity to take advantage of additional state funds,” Bates said.

Eight schools will benefit from this change in service pricing.

The remaining schools in the district will not be affected as they are designated for free meals for every student in the school.

Last year, 68,342 meals were served in the first eight schools designated for universal free meals, said Lunch Application Specialist Melanie Miller.

In August, the school district added four elementary schools to the free meals program.